Pulling On The Lead

Training & Behaviour
Pulling On The Lead

My greyhound pulls terribly on the lead. It makes taking him for a walk a real chore!

Many dogs are very excited to leave on their daily walk. In the rush to get to the park they often learn to pull on the lead. Unfortunately we tend to actually reinforce this behaviour – the dog pulls and we follow along, and the end result is the dog learns it can get to the park faster if it pulls.

Most greyhounds are taught to walk on the leash as part of their race career training, but some younger dogs, or those that have never raced, may not have had a lot of training in this area. Others have only ever associated the leash with the excitement of racing, so their trained response is one of excitement and anticipation.

Apart from the obvious discomfort to our arms, there is also the risk that the dog will pull us over. For the dog, there are also physical consequences. For dogs wearing collars that tighten or choke, the consequence of constant pulling can be restriction of air intake, and restriction of blood flow to the entire head. Some dogs have even been shown to sustain damage to the sensitive retina in the eye due to sudden increases to blood pressure as the collar goes tight.

So how can I make the dog stop pulling?

Teaching the dog to walk on a loose leash is not an easy task. It takes time, patience, and most of all – consistency. The dog must learn that pulling will get it nowhere, and a loose leash will result in progress. By the time most people decide to train loose leash walking, their dog has been pulling for months or years. This means the pulling behaviour has been rewarded for a long time, and therefore the dog will think this is the correct response. It takes a while to fade this behaviour from the dog’s repertoire.

The idea is to teach the dog that the consequence of pulling is that the walk will stop. Therefore every time the leash goes tight, you will have to stop any forward progress and stand still. If you have a large dog, you might have to brace yourself a little as you stop. You can then work on encouraging your dog to move so that the lead loosens before heading off again.

Another option is to stop moving forward as the lead goes tight, but instead of standing still, walk off in another direction. You might turn around and go back the way you came, or you might just head off in another direction. If the dog races in front and starts to pull, you change direction again.

As you can imagine, both of these methods will mean you spend quite a bit of your walk stopped, or not moving forward, and you might not get very far on each walk. As your dog will still need a normal amount of exercise, so you might have to think of alternate ways to burn off some steam whilst you concentrate on teaching the dog the loose leash walking. Sometimes it is a good idea to burn off some steam before you start your walk so the dog is not quite as energetic as you try to concentrate on the loose leash.

It is also important that everyone who walks the dog follows the same steps. If you are working hard on the loose leash walking and then another family member takes the dog for a walk and lets it pull all the way to the park, you will find that you will make very little progress, and the dog will be confused as to what is correct. Every person walking the dog must do the same thing, and it must also happen on every walk. If you are too busy to spend time working on keeping the leash loose, don’t just let the dog pull again, maybe exercise the dog by throwing a toy in the backyard instead.

Is there equipment that can help reduce the pulling?

There are now many different pieces of equipment that are designed to help give owners a physical advantage. There are special harnesses designed to reduce pulling, and many different head collars that will help.  Head collars fit over the head and nose of the dog, similar to a halter for a horse. They give the owner a way of controlling the head of the dog, which is helpful if your dog tends to be reactive in certain situations – maybe he really gets excited when people ride past on bikes, or when he sees a cat, small animals or other dogs.

Both harnesses and head collars have a mechanical effect, but the benefits of these will soon be lost if you just continue to let the dog pull. The idea is to stop walking as the lead goes tight, and let the equipment do its job. The lead is held steady, it is not jerked or pulled, and once the lead is loose, you can again move forward.  Most people find that they have the best success in the shortest time by combining the training with the added assistance of the equipment.

Although there are many brands of head collar, greyhounds do quite well in the Halti brand ones as they tend to fit breeds of dogs with longer noses really well. The sizing on the packet of the Halti is a little misleading, and you usually need to buy a size or two smaller than you would expect – sometimes taking the dog with you to the shop, or having the head collar fitted by someone who understands how they should fit is the best way to make sure you get the right size.

Generally head collars need to be fitted so that the strap that goes around the back of the dog’s neck is quite firm. Because it sits high on the neck, it does not need to allow any space underneath – unlike fitting a collar. The leash attaches under the jaw of the greyhound, and many people choose to have the Halti ‘safety strap’ or a ‘connector’ fitted to the dog’s normal collar, in case the dog gets the Halti off.

If you are not sure about fitting or using a head-collar it is best to ask someone knowledgeable to show you how it is done. If you have trained dogs before using a choke or correction collar, you will need to be careful that you don’t jerk on the leash that is attached to the head collar in the same way or you may do damage to your greyhound’s neck. Instead, think of the head collar as ‘power steering’ with the act of you standing still and holding the leash steady having the desired effect.

Because sudden jerking on the leash will have the effect of turning the dog’s head too quickly, it is also advisable not to allow the greyhound to run on a long line which is attached to a head collar. This is simply because they can do serious damage if they race off at speed and hit the end of the line suddenly. It is safer to attach a long line to a flat collar.

Meet our dogs ready for adoption

All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.

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Jett

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Stevie

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Our wonderful Stevie boy is ready to win hearts. Stevie is a lovely and friendly boy who can charm anyone with his outgoing and affectionate personality. He loves his toys and may be best suited to a home with children 10+ and would enjoy having another dog to be his buddy. We could all use a bit of Stevie love in our lives! Stevie would also love a backyard to run and play in. Stevie has spent some time in foster care and his foster carer said that he is a "...happy, big goofball, eager to please, cuddler and leaner. sleeps all night. plays with every toy likes soft toys and chew toys, favourite is the snorting pig and chasing ball. loves digging them all out of the basket. would be great with another large dog or by himself as long as he has things he can play with." Stevie has some osteo arthritis from an old injury, but this doesn't stop him from being his bright, bubbly self.
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Esmae ARP

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Poppy

9 years old

Meet Poppy, the lovely and endearing greyhound lady who's ready to bloom in her forever home! This gentle soul is as sweet as can be, with a heart of gold and a desire to please. Poppy loves people and enjoys human interaction, making her a fantastic companion for families and individuals alike. Poppy has been through behavioural rehabilitation, which has helped her become a confident and well-adjusted greyhound. She's perfect for families with kids aged 10+, who will adore her calm and gentle nature. Poppy would most likely love to live as the only furry friend or alongside respectful medium to large male dog. She is a perfect lady on the lead and walks quietly by your side. Poppy has Inflammatory bowel disease, but this doesn't stop her happy go lucky attitude.
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Dwight

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Dorky Dwight is in the search for his forever family! This boy is incredibly affectionate and has nothing higher on his wish list than someone who can provide bum scratches. When he isn't requesting affection, he is showing off his goofy and puppy-like side that is sure to make you laugh! Due to his playful ways, he may suit a home with children 10+ who can play with him! He may enjoy a medium or large canine sibling but may also like being the star of the show as a solo pooch! His playful nature means he wouldn't do best in a home with small dogs or cats, and will need some space to run, therefore wouldn't suit apartment life.
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Mia

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Meet Mia, a friendly and affectionate greyhound who's bursting with enthusiasm! This extroverted girl loves people and can't get enough attention - she's always eager to please and shower her humans with affection. With her bubbly personality, Mia's sure to bring joy and excitement to her forever home. Mia's looking for a household where she can be the only dog, and she's suitable for families with or without kids aged 10+. While she's a wonderful companion, Mia's still working on her manners, so she'll need a patient and understanding owner to help her learn and grow. If you're ready to provide Mia with love, guidance, and a forever home, she'll reward you with loyalty, affection, and plenty of personality!

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Meeko

3 years old

Meet Meeko, the charming and playful greyhound gentleman who's ready to capture your heart! This friendly boy has a delightful puppyish streak, loving nothing more than seeking attention and playtime from his favourite humans. Meeko's unique trait is his love of seeking eye contact, often gazing adoringly at his people to connect and show affection. Meeko is perfect for families with kids aged 5+, who will adore his energetic and loving personality. With his outgoing and affectionate nature, Meeko promises to bring joy and companionship to his new family. If you're looking for a loving and playful buddy, Meeko is ready to be your new best friend! Meeko has an old hock fracture which has healed well, without any hardware present. Meeko needs a home with another dog for company, and can also be a bit anxious in new situations.
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Shelby

6 years old

Meet adorable Shelby, who has the best ears going around. Sweet Shelby is a fun and confident girl who loves water and cuddles; she is incredibly affectionate and outgoing and is sure to become your best buddy! Shelby may enjoy having a medium or large canine sibling but may also enjoy being the centre of attention as an only dog! Due to her energetic ways Shelby may do best with a home with children 10+ who can keep up with her and wouldn't suit a home with a small dog or cats.
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